Hali at Jasper Deli stands behind the counter, where most customers now pay using cards or digital wallets rather than cash. ZEKE JAZWINSKI / THE QUADRANGLE
Zeke Jazwinski, Staff Writer
Over the last few years, New York City has been rapidly shifting away from the use of cash. Now, from delis to Michelin-star restaurants and even the MTA, more and more businesses are only accepting card and electronic phone payments. While using less cash can seem faster, safer and easier, it also raises questions about who can use it, how to keep things private and how to be fair.
For many people living in New York City, the limit on cash acceptance might mean limited access to essential needs. The Quadrangle spoke to a worker at Jasper Deli and two recent graduates from Manhattan University about how this shift has affected their lives.
“By far, we get more card payments than cash,” Hali Alhumaidi, a worker at Jasper Deli said. “As a business, we wouldn’t want to exclude any form of payment, even if most people pay with a card, phone or watch.”
Card readers and the use of Apple Pay have quickly become the norm. However, there is still an emphasis on the accessibility businesses can provide by accepting multiple forms of payment. Alhumaidi also noted that card sales began to rise most sharply during the pandemic years and have continued to climb ever since, as digital payments have become more convenient than reaching into your wallet.
According to the NYC.gov, “Stores must accept cash unless they have a machine to convert cash to a prepaid card.” This protection of cash has been heavily pushed for by lawmakers in New York to help ensure people who used cash all their lives don’t get lost in this new age of technology.
Two former students from Manhattan University discussed how simply using cards or phones to check out has changed their daily routines, from buying coffee between classes to splitting rent and bills.
Quinn Nagle ‘25 spoke of the positive and negative aspects of this shift.
“It’s definitely easier not having to carry cash around, but sometimes I feel like I’m losing track of how much I spend because everything’s just a tap away,” Nagle said.
The increasing shift away from cash is not just prevalent in NYC. As multiple cities become more reliant on technology, it changes the structure of public transportation.
The MTA’s OMNY system lets people use a phone, watch or card to ride the subway, inspiring the retirement of the long-held MetroCard, set for Dec. 31.
The rise of this use of technology will affect the older generations, those who don’t own Apple products and those reliant on paying for MetroCards with cash.
Corrinne Simeone ‘25 had a lot to say about the shift.
“It’s definitely made getting around quicker, but I can see how it’s harder for older people who aren’t as familiar with the technology,” Simeone said. “Not everyone grew up with phones or cards as their main way to pay, so it can feel confusing or even discouraging for them.”
Whether it’s riding the subway, buying food or paying rent, the city’s growing use of card and phone payments reflects a change in time. It also means that New Yorkers, regardless of age or history, have to stay up to date with changes in New York life.